Shelby Iron Works, County Road 42, Shelby, Shelby County, AL

Significance: The Shelby Ironworks represents a unique continuum in the development of the charcoal iron industry from the 1840s to World War I. This industrial center was the site of major advances in the technology and business organization of ironmaking in the District during the antebellum period. In 1860, the Shelby Ironworks erected the first rolling mill in the state, a move to process pig iron that was key to the site's economic diversification and growth. Due to its large supply of rich brown ore, Shelby produced a very high grade pig iron. During the Civil War, iron rolled here was shipped to arsenals in Selma and Columbus, Georgia for use in building Confederate iron clads, an advanced naval technology. During Reconstruction, Shelby built one of the largest charcoal furnaces in the United States and, together with other furnaces located along the Selma, Rome and Dalton Railroad, became the South's leading producer of chilled-iron railroad wheels, dominating this market for 20 years. Consistently, Shelby led technical innovations in fuel conservation and charcoal by-product recycling. During World War I, the U.S. Government selected Shelby for chemical production. Remaining structures and extensive foundations, underground tunnels, brown ore pits, company buildings and railroad beds stand as evidence of Shelby's role in the charcoal iron industry from the 1840s to World War I.
Survey number: HAER AL-42
Building/structure dates: 1841 Initial Construction